As violence continues to escalate in Manipur, claiming at least nine lives since September 1, Chief Minister N Biren Singh convened a meeting with ruling MLAs on Saturday evening. This meeting followed a series of dramatic incidents, including attacks on foothill villages with improvised rockets and bombs dropped from drones.
After the legislative meeting, Singh visited the Raj Bhavan to discuss the crisis with Governor Lakshman Acharya. The Chief Minister reportedly sought to convey the urgent need for Central government intervention.
On Saturday, a gunfight broke out in Jiribam district after the killing of a 63-year-old Meitei man, Y Kulachandra. According to reports, suspected “Kuki militants” entered Kulachandra’s home in Ningthem Khunou and shot him early in the morning. This was followed by a fierce gunbattle between the attackers and another armed group in the Nungcheppi area, resulting in the deaths of four Kuki militants and one Meitei combatant.
In response to the escalating violence, Chief Minister Singh organized a meeting with the BJP-led coalition MLAs, which includes representatives from the Naga People’s Front, National People’s Party, and Janata Dal (United). Approximately 24 legislators, including six cabinet ministers, participated in the discussion. BJP MLA Kh Ibomcha stated that the meeting decided to pressure the Central government to take decisive action against the militants. “With the sophisticated weaponry being used in these attacks, restoring normalcy is nearly impossible. We agreed to push the central leadership to act,” he said.
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has also called for increased Central support to safeguard Manipur’s citizens from the rising militant threat. COCOMI has issued an ultimatum demanding immediate action from the Indian Armed Forces within five days or face drastic measures from the local population, including the potential expulsion of central forces from the state.
These developments come on the heels of a recent rocket attack that claimed a life at the home of Manipur’s late Chief Minister Mairembam Koireng and caused significant damage to structures in Bishnupur district.
In response to the increasing severity of the attacks, official sources indicate that the Manipur police are planning to acquire more advanced equipment, including anti-drone systems. Intensified search operations are being conducted in the areas affected by the recent rocket and drone attacks.
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